PortaTree Silver Box Professional - Manual

PORTATREE PROFESSIONAL MANUAL
The Portatree Professional Drag Racing Timing System can be used “Stand Alone”
(without the use of a Personal Computer) or with an IBM Compatible Personal Computer
connected through Com Port 1 or 2 to the Portatree Professional. We recommend using a
Personal Computer if you intend to have over 100 entries. See the Specifications that we
recommend for your computer before your buy one and make sure that you run the viewing
screen in 800 x 600 resolution.
SETTING UP THE PERSONAL COMPUTER SOFTWARE:
The software for the Portatree Professional is available in 3 different combinations; 1.)
Database only, 2.) Database and Scoreboard Drivers 3.) Database, Scoreboard Drivers, and
Qualifying / Ladders. Another option that can be purchased separately is Auto Start, which is
available in options 2 & 3. The software is sent in CD Rom only and the disk containing the
Registration Key (Ptspro.ini File) which must be loaded manually into the C:\Windows
directory. This file is necessary to create the link between the Personal Computer and the
Portatree Professional Drag Race Computer.
You should first load the CD Rom that comprise Paradox Runtime. This contains the
Post Process Program and the Drag Race Program (“Ptree.exe”). See the Post Process
Program Installation Instructions on Page 8 of this manual. The Post Process Program is run in
conjunction with Paradox Runtime while the Drag Race Program runs without the need to start
Paradox Runtime.
You can Drag and Drop Shortcut Icons onto your main screen in Windows ’95 or ’98 by
opening up the Windows Explorer. Find the ptree.exe file (should be in C:\portatree\) and the
Pdxrwn32.exe file (should be in C:\Program Files\Borland\Paradox9 Runtime). Left Click (Hold
Left Mouse Button Down) and drag the file name onto the Main Screen. You can rename the
Icon Drag Race Program (ptree.exe) and Post Process Program (Pdxrwn32.exe).
CONNECTING THE PORTATREE PROFESSIONAL COMPUTER TO THE P.C.
After all disks are loaded into your Personal Computer, you should concentrate on
getting the Drag Race Program operational first. Power up your Track Interface Box with 12
volts D.C.and make sure the Toggle Switch is “ON” to power up your Portatree Professional
Computer. You will see Competition, Diagnostics, and System Setup on the Portatree
Professional Display. Now you must double click on the Drag Race Program Icon on your
Personal Computer, you will see the Main Portatree Professional Drag Race System screen
open up. If you are connected to the Portatree Professional Computer, you will see under the
“Portatree Pro Status” the Serial, Version, Config, and Mfg Date appear. If you see “labs” ,
“labv”, “labc” , “labm” -- you are NOT connected. This means that either your serial port on
the P.C. is BAD, you are not using the special Null Modem Cable provided with your software,
or you are on a different com port and must go into the C:\ Windows\ptspro.ini file and edit the
[communications] section where it says port=1 ( this means com 1 or set it to a 2 for com 2 ).
You must be linked to the Personal Computer before you can go to the next step.
SETTING UP THE PRO BOX
Click on “Setup” and then “ProBox” and you will see the screen on the next page (this is
the Switch Setting Screen) with 4 tabs labeled Switches, Race, Lights, and Test Lights. The
Switch settings shown are for a _ mile Asphalt track. Note that all down track locations (60 Ft
330 ft, 594 ft, 660 ft, 990 ft, 1254 ft, 1320 ft ) the polarity is set to HIGH. This is true on an
asphalt track only using Banner SBL1 (Yellow) Infrared Sensors. If you are running a Sand,